Last Updated on February 16, 2024 by Natalia
When travelling around the Indian state of Rajasthan, it’s quite common to find yourself at some point needing to get from Jaipur to Udaipur, or vice versa. Thankfully, it’s nice and easy to get between the 2 cities. Our recommended option is to take the train directly from Jaipur to Udaipur, but it’s also possible to make the journey by bus or taxi. There’s plenty to enjoy in both cities, with Jaipur known as the ‘pink city’ whilst Udaipur’s nickname is the ‘city of lakes’. Find out exactly how to get from Jaipur to Udaipur with this guide!
Get some ideas for your trip with this 2 week Rajasthan and Taj Mahal itinerary!
Train from Jaipur to Udaipur
The best way to get from Jaipur to Udaipur, or vice versa for that matter, is by train. Travelling by train in India is cheap even over long distances, and it’s normally just as quick as going by bus or car.
Trains from Jaipur to Udaipur take a minimum of 7¼ hours assuming there are no delays. Google maps estimates the drive to take approximately 6 and a half hours, which is only slightly less than going by train but travelling by car is considerably more expensive.
The train fare from Jaipur to Udaipur is as little as 175 rupees if you go in Second Sitting – the lowest class type available.
The following class types are available on trains from Jaipur to Udaipur, listed from lowest to highest: Second Sitting, Sleeper, AC Chair Car, AC 3 Tier, AC 2 Tier and AC First Class. All of these classes provide a bed berth, except for Second Sitting and AC Chair Car.
In our opinion, it’s worth paying slightly more to be in one of the sleeper classes so that you have a bed for the journey. Spending 7+ hours on a train can be quite tedious and boring, so it’s nice to have space to lie down and sleep if you want to.
We personally recommend travelling in the AC 3 Tier carriages. These carriages are air conditioned and your ticket will assign you either a lower, middle or upper berth bed. There are generally 3 tiers of beds stacked on top of each other, kind of like bunk beds.
Prices for an AC 3 Tier ticket from Jaipur to Udaipur start from 800 rupees, but prices do vary between trains. Although this is over 4 times the price of the cheapest Second Sitting ticket, it’s still very cheap and we think it’s worth the money to have a more comfortable journey.
If you’re travelling on a budget then one option is to take one of the overnight trains from Jaipur to Udaipur, as then it saves you paying for accommodation for a night. That way you can justify paying a little more for your ticket!
Booking your tickets in advance is essential if you plan to travel around India by train. Tickets can sell out weeks in advance, and we made the mistake of not planning ahead and then had to change our whole itinerary due to trains selling out.
It can be a bit confusing and complicated to book train tickets as a foreigner, as it’s not possible to book through the India Railways website unless you have an Indian ID. Fortunately, it is possible to book your tickets in advance using 12GoAsia or another third party.
Click here to book your train tickets via 12GoAsia!
If you’re already in India then there is another way you can book your tickets in advance. There are travel agents in both Jaipur and Udaipur, as well as most other major cities, that can assist you in booking tickets.
They will usually charge a small booking fee of 50-100 rupees per ticket, but it’s still very good value and is the cheapest way to get your tickets. Unfortunately this method only really works if you’re in India a while in advance of your desired travel dates, as otherwise the train will probably sell out!
Click here to check train schedules and prices on the Indian Railways website!
We personally think that booking via 12GoAsia is the better option, as it’s easier to book further in advance. That way you’re much less likely to end up in a situation where the tickets have sold out and you need to find another way to travel.
It’s worth noting that it’s fairly common for at least some delays when travelling by train in India. In most cases these delays aren’t too bad, but it’s worth factoring in a bit of extra journey time to account for this.
Bus from Jaipur to Udaipur
If you want to use public transport but the train is sold out then it’s also possible to get the bus from Jaipur to Udaipur.
Tickets for a bus from Jaipur to Udaipur cost as little as 250 rupees, although the more reliable operators charge more. Even still, you should be able to get a ticket with one of the better operators for around 300-600 rupees, which is still pretty good value!
The cheaper operators are great if you’re trying to keep costs down, but the buses won’t be as comfortable and you’re more likely to have long delays. As it only costs slightly more for some of the better operators we think it’s worth paying the extra as you’re less likely to have any problems.
Journey times vary depending on the bus service you take, with the quickest advertised as 6 hours 15 minutes. Realistically, a bus from Jaipur to Udaipur is likely to take between 7 and 10 hours, or potentially even longer depending on traffic or any issues.
We recommend taking estimates of journey time with a pinch of salt, as delays are reasonably common and the operators aren’t always reliable.
Taxi from Jaipur to Udaipur
The main alternative to taking the train or bus is to get a taxi from Jaipur to Udaipur. Apart from flying, taking a taxi is the most expensive option and so we’d recommend sticking to public transport if you can.
Driving from Jaipur to Udaipur takes approximately 7 hours, but depending on traffic and any stops you make it could easily take longer.
One of the best ways to find a cheap taxi from Jaipur to Udaipur is to simply ask taxi drivers on the streets how much they would charge. Make sure to do this a few days in advance, rather than on the day of travel. If a driver offers a good price then take their phone number and you can always confirm the details with them a bit later.
Another option is to go through a travel agent to arrange a taxi/driver for the journey. There are several travel agents in both Jaipur and Udaipur who will be able to help book the trip for you, just make sure you negotiate on the price to get the best deal!
We also recommend searching online for a local taxi service in Jaipur, or in Udaipur if you plan on travelling in the other direction. Some taxi services will list their prices online for long distance journeys, but it’s also worth getting in contact for a quote and trying to negotiate a price.
One of the other options is to book a taxi online in advance through Klook. It may end up being a bit more expensive this way, but if you want to have your transport organised a while in advance then it’s one of the most convenient options.
Click here to book a taxi for your trip through Klook!
You can also book taxis online in advance through companies like Make My Trip Cabs or OlaCabs Outstation. These companies work like Uber for long distance journeys in India.
The cost of a one way taxi from Jaipur to Udaipur will really vary depending on the method you select and your negotiation skills. It should be possible to arrange a taxi for 3,500-4,000 rupees one-way, but sometimes it’s worth paying more for the convenience of booking online.
Travelling more of Rajasthan? Check out the links below to find out how to get between other cities!
How to get from Udaipur to Jodhpur! How to get from Jodhpur to Jaisalmer!
How to get from Jaipur to Jaisalmer! How to get from Udaipur to Jaisalmer!
How to get from Jaipur to Jodhpur!
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